Why Is My iPhone Charging Slowly And How To Fix It

If you’ve noticed that your iPhone is taking longer than usual to charge, there are a few common reasons behind this issue. Let’s explore what factors can affect the charging speed of your iPhone and provide some tips to help you charge it faster.

Check Your Charger and Cable

One of the primary causes of slow charging is a problem in the power delivery chain, rather than user action or software settings. Let’s examine some potential sources of slow charging and troubleshoot them.

Firstly, a damaged charger or cable can significantly affect the charging speed. While obvious physical damage is easy to detect, components in chargers can deteriorate over time, especially in cheaper chargers, and cables can wear internally without visible signs of damage. Before diving into troubleshooting, try using another charger and lightning cable to rule out any issues with the original ones.

Clean Your Lightning Port

Another surprising culprit of slow charging is a clogged lightning port. Lint and debris can accumulate in the port, causing frustrating charging problems. In some cases, you might plug in the cable, and the phone will start charging, but the material in the port gradually pushes the cable out, interrupting the charging process. Cleaning the lightning port is a simple solution to this problem.

Use a Higher-Amperage Charger

Using a low-amperage charger is another common reason for slow charging. Older and inexpensive phone chargers often provide 5W of power at 1A, which may not be sufficient for newer iPhones that support USB Power Delivery and fast charging. To charge your phone faster, it is recommended to pair it with a new, upgraded charger that can deliver more power.

Avoid Wireless Charging

If you’ve recently switched to wireless charging, you might have noticed that it takes longer to reach a full charge compared to plugging your phone in. Wireless charging is inherently slower, so if you’re in a hurry to charge your phone completely, switching to a traditional charger, preferably a fast charger, is the way to go.

Don’t Charge Your Phone With Your Computer

Charging your iPhone with your computer is possible, but not the most efficient method. USB ports on computers are primarily designed for data transfer and not for fast charging. Most computer USB ports supply only 0.5A, making them even slower than old phone chargers. It’s best to avoid using your computer as a phone charger whenever possible.

Also: iPhone Stuck In Headphone Mode: How To Fix

Stop Using Your Phone While It Charges

Using your phone while it charges can also affect the charging speed. Any activity on your phone consumes power, even when it’s plugged in. If you want to maximize the speed of charging, it’s advisable to refrain from using your phone while it’s charging.

Disable Charging Optimizations

Sometimes, the iPhone’s built-in charging optimization features might not be suitable for your needs. Disabling these features, such as “Optimized Battery Charging” and “Clean Energy Charging,” can improve your charging experience. These settings can be found in the Settings app under Battery > Battery Health & Charging. However, keep in mind that these optimizations are designed to prolong battery life, so assess whether turning them off aligns with your routine and preferences.

Tips to Charge Your iPhone Faster

Now that we’ve explored the reasons behind slow charging, let’s discuss some tips to charge your iPhone as quickly as possible when you need a full battery.

Use a Fast Charger

Using a fast charger is the most effective way to charge your iPhone rapidly, although it may slightly impact battery wear. Fast chargers deliver more power, allowing you to reach 100% in less time. Remember, enjoying your phone is essential, and battery replacements are not prohibitively expensive if necessary.

Turn Off Your Phone

If you need the maximum charge in the minimum time, consider temporarily turning off your phone. When the phone is off, all the energy from the charger is directed towards recharging the battery instead of supporting background processes or maintaining a connection with cellular towers.

Activate Low Power Mode and Airplane Mode

Another option is to activate Low Power Mode, which conserves battery life by reducing background processes. You can find this option in the Settings app under Battery > Low Power Mode. Additionally, toggling on Airplane Mode disables the phone’s cellular radio, further increasing charging speed.

Lower Screen Brightness and Enable Dark Mode

Lowering the brightness of your phone’s screen can also speed up charging. The screen consumes a significant amount of battery life, so minimizing brightness without straining your eyes will reduce power consumption. On newer iPhones with OLED screens, enabling dark mode can save battery life and accelerate charging.

Factors That Don’t Affect Charging Speed

Now, let’s address some factors that you don’t need to worry about when it comes to slow charging.

Ambient Temperature

Ambient temperature has minimal impact on charging speed, except when exposed to extreme heat or cold. iPhones have built-in protection mechanisms that shut down the device in extreme heat and may display inaccurate battery data in extremely cold conditions. However, in normal circumstances, ambient temperature doesn’t noticeably affect charging speed.

Battery Health

If your iPhone is charging slowly, it’s unlikely to be related to battery health. Battery degradation can cause erratic behavior, but it usually manifests as an inability to hold a charge rather than slow charging. Upgrading to a fast charger or replacing the lightning cable won’t resolve this issue; a battery replacement would be required.

By understanding the common causes of slow charging and implementing the tips mentioned above, you can optimize the charging speed of your iPhone and ensure you have a fully charged battery when you need it most.